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Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Hello!A while back, I re-organized my desk drawer for at least the 4th time in 2013 (not
joking) ! I change the organizational system of my desk drawer a LOT, way
more than I need to. What can I say, I'm an organizing junkie. :) I will organize it and a month or so later, re-organize it simply because I love doing it! In case you're wondering how I organize my desk drawer, I mainly use methods that I mentioned in my previous post!Here's all the pictures!

Backup school supply box, small storage box (by Really Useful Box) which stores extra inserts for the box above, lid of a box used to store post-its/tabs/blank index cards, blue box stores pens which I use to write in my planner, my planner, rulers, writing supplies box and finally in the middle the small supplies box.

It may not seem like much of a difference - that's because I re-organized the drawer, I didn't de-clutter it. To me, the drawer is simplified and more structured (if I can put it that way) because pretty much everything is in a tray or a box as opposed to the "before" where I had more "loose change", let's say. I kept the storage containers towards the back of the drawer because I don't reach for them that often but I do reach for my planner, tabs/sticky notes, index cards a lot more. So I also made everything a little more accessible.

As you can see, I've mainly changed the larger row on the bottom. I've the items previously there to a lid which I placed in the front of my drawer.

Writing Supplies box - Before

Writing supplies box - After! By the way, the third compartment from the left will have both gel and ballpoint pens.(This is actually different than the one in the "After" drawer picture, I re-organized this particular container again!)

Small supplies box - after!I actually did not have a before picture of this box (Sorry!) but I replaced post-it flags with labels and post-it page markers/small sticky notes with large binder clips (which I am still yet to buy).

Also, any remaining supplies that I don't use often, I stored in a shoebox.

That's all for this post! Thanks a TON for reading it! I hoped it inspired you to re-organize (or organize) your desk drawer (or any drawer, for that matter)!

Sunday, 26 May 2013

Hi! I'm pretty sure we've established how much I love school supplies! I've already told you how you can organize school supplies on your desk (haven't read it yet? Click here!). So, in this post I'll continue to tell you how you can organize school supplies but in your desk drawers. As a high school student, I prefer to have most of my supplies in my desk drawer, so I use most of these methods! Make sure you read the full post, I've saved the best for last! :)*not
sponsored, links are non-affiliated, images are from respective
websites unless mentioned otherwise, I just wanted to provide links
where you could buy the products at the best price!* :)FYI: text added on images using Picmonkey.comPrice breakdown:$ ($5 and less)$$ (>$5 and <$12)$$$ (>$12)1. Acrylic containers:

Pros: Can see products clearly, already divided, very functional if you have a lot of supplies, sturdy.

Cons: Regular pencils do not fit (in mine), also not all products will fit perfectly (larger post-its/tabs,etc.).

Price: $$ (totally worth the money according to me)

How I organize:

Note: Some of these are extras and some are not! :)

Also I store both ballpoint and gel pens in the 3rd compartment from the left.

Products:

Amazon.com | $10.75This is the one I have pictured above. I got it over a year ago for $7 (price increased, I guess)It's great quality though!

By the way, ARTBIN has some more containers - mainly for sewing and arts & crafts supplies but you could still use them for school supply storage! Besides that, any bead storage box should work for storing small supplies!2. Small trays:

Pros: simple, inexpensive, some of them can even be stacked to save space (in deep drawers), available in multiple sizes

Cons: I can't really think of any! Can you?

Price: $

Utilize: When you place these in your drawer(s), that is if you do, try to fit them like you're playing tetris!

Quick tip! While you are "playing tetris", place the trays with your most reached for products in the front of the drawer so it's easy to reach!

Substitute: Plastic boxes without lids or just bigger lids of random boxes that you might throw away work great too! (I've used a chocolate box without a lid before and use a strong lid now - to organize index cards/post-it notes/tabs)

Pros: Customizable, can be re-organized plenty of times, should fit most supplies (depending on the size of the box you have), affordable depending on where you purchase (still definitely worth the price), the BEST organizer (in my honest opinion of course)

Cons: might be difficult to find in stores :(

Price: $$-$$$ (again depends on where you purchase)

How I organize:

This is actually a medicine box that I got from a local store for $1!(also, I'm currently out of large binder clips)

DIY: This is not that practical or long-lasting but I've done this before - take a plastic container (I actually used a shoebox), and use cardboard inserts to divide. (for a tray, take off the lid, for a box don't!)

Products:CreativeOptionsCrafts - this is the brand of my storage box (pictured above). Great quality and reasonably priced depending on where you get it. Click the "Where to Buy" tab on their website if you would like to! Also, I got my container over a year and a half ago but I'm pretty sure that it's a Large Utility Organizer (hope that helps!)

That's it for this post! Thanks a TON for reading it! Make sure you read Part 1 if you haven't yet! Are you going to use any of these methods? Or do you use any other ones? Let me know in a comment below! (hey, that rhymes!)

Please go ahead and follow or subscribe so you know when I post next! Thanks! :)

-Kavya :)

"If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" - Albert Einstein

Thursday, 23 May 2013

Do you get really excited whenever you walk into Staples or Office Depot? Well, if you do, then we both LOVE school supplies! So, that means we might have a little more than we need, right? ;) We also need to organize them. However, even if you don't have a lot, you still need to organize them because dumping everything in a drawer or on top of your desk isn't exactly the best thing to do. You might ask, how can you organize school supplies? Well, just keep on reading so you do! (if you don't know what this series is, click here!)I've decided to split this post into 2, just so I don't make it way too long because when it comes to school supplies and organization, I can go on and on! Part 1: Desktop organizationPart 2: Drawer organization*not sponsored, links are non-affiliated, images are from respective websites unless mentioned otherwise, I just wanted to provide links where you could buy the products at the best price!* :)Price breakdown:$ ($5 and less)$$ (>$5 and <$12)$$$ (>$12)1. Cups/Glass - like stands/holders:

Pros: Extremely easy, affordable, can be used to organize writing supplies and clips, can be organized to the max!

Cons: Can take up desktop space depending on how many you choose to use.

Utilize: 1 with your essentials (picture below) OR line up multiple ones - one for pens, another for pencils, highlighters, etc.

My desktop school supply holder
(image above and below are my own)

It has a cardboard divider in the middle.
On the left: Whiteboard markers
On the right: 1 regular pencil, 1 mechanical pencil, 1 pen & a pair of scissors
I've also put a binder clip on the rim.

Sub-organize! By cutting out a correct sized piece of cardboard, you can slide it into your holder (like I've done above) and divide your supplies!

Price: $ (I got mine above for $1 but they usually are about $2-$5 for plain ones)

DIY: Take an empty jar (clean, of course) and divide and decorate (decoration post coming soon!) It's as simple as that! You help save the environment (by reusing) and save money too! - Double bonus! ;)

Quick tip! Place markers/highlighters/pens/etc. inverted so they don't dry out!

Staples | $7.99Costs more but you can keep writing supplies and smaller ones in this! A 2-in-1 product that saves space!

2. Organizers with drawers/Desk Cubes:

Pros: Easy to use, great to use if you don't have a desk drawer, easy-to-reach on your desk, can be stacked to save space (this also substitutes using multiple holders which I mentioned above), much better than stacking boxes on top of your desk, can be used in shelves too!

Cons: More expensive, will require more if you have a lot of supplies

Sub-organize! Cardboard inserts work great too, but if the drawers are deeper, plastic trays can be stacked for maximum space utilization!

The brands SPARCO and DEFLECT-O seem to have the widest range on Amazon.com for the best prices! :)3. Desktop organizers:

Pros: Extremely simple (all you have to do is buy one and fill it!), efficient, great if you have a small amount of supplies, perfect if you are not into organizing and want something quick, already divided (just decide where you want what!).

Cons: Much more expensive, not worth the money if you have a lot of supplies (better to use holders).

In case you're wondering, I just use one holder (pictured in the beginning) and organize the rest in my drawer.

That's all for this post! Thanks a TON for reading this long post! Still, I hoped this helped you and now you organize your desktop! Stay tuned for part 2 soon! (It's up! - Click here to read!)

Are you going to use any of these methods? Or do you have different ones? Feel free to comment! Also please go ahead and follow or subscribe so you know when I post next! Thanks! :)

-Kavya :)

"When it comes to organizing a workspace, relaxation and comfort aren't the primary goals. Work is about efficiency and productivity. ... The more neat and logically organized your workspace is, the better you will be at your job." - Peter Walsh

Monday, 20 May 2013

Hi!Yet another introduction, you may think? (my fourth one so far!) In case you're wondering why, well, I love to organize and categorize everything and anything. I want to make this blog user-friendly and just make everything clear for YOU. :) That's why!Series Scoop:

Thanks a TON for reading this post. I hope you are just as excited as I am for this series! If you have anything in particular that you would like me to do a "H2O" post for, feel free to comment below! Also, please go ahead and follow or subscribe so you know when I post next! Thanks! :)

-Kavya :)

"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Thursday, 16 May 2013

Today, for this studying subjects post, (click here if you don't know what this series is!) I decided to do my favorite subject: Math. (Yes, math is my favorite). A terrifying subject for some and an interesting one for others (like me!). Math is just one of those subjects where you either like it or
you hate it. However, your interest doesn't play a role in your
marks/grade but it does in studying the subject for tests/exams. I know
someone who hates math, absolutely hates it but has got 100% in tests
before.

(Image from costalonga.wordpress.com)

Now, on to the actual point of this post: Studying Math. Let me break it down for you:1. Accept:

-Some
people just LOVE it and study math in college and even afterwards. On
the other hand, there are people who HATE it and don't want anything to
do with math at all. Ever.-Well, sad to say (for some) that all
professions require math (almost) but even if a certain one doesn't,
we still need to know math at least till some level, right? -So just accept it. Then you can study it. I'm not saying you need to find math interesting but as long as you accept it, you'll be OK. :)2. Understand: (the basics)

-Memorize Understand the basics of math as much as you can: formulae, theorems, properties, etc. You'll remember them better, trust me.-Values
are exceptions: what is the value of pi? or root 2? or root 3? If you
come across it in a question and DON'T have a calculator, you'll just
waste time calculating it yourself. So memorize those. Even if you do, you can still save time without using the calculator.-Read the basics over and over and over again: use flashcards! (I'll probably do a post on flashcards eventually). If you don't want to use flashcards, you can just write them down on a sheet of paper or highlight them in your textbook/notes.-Keep going over them until you know everything that you need to 200%. It'll help you a LOT.

3. Apply AKA Practice, practice, practice:

Efficient and consistent practice makes perfect (especially in math).

The above statement is totally true. Practice is the KEY to doing good in math.Practice from as many sources as you can, from your textbook (examples included), worksheets, questions from the internet, extra books and so on.For online worksheets, check out:http://edhelper.com/math.htm (I have used ones from here before, it's very helpful)http://www.analyzemath.com/high_school_math.html (high school worksheets)http://www.ixl.com (elementary/middle school worksheets)*non-affiliated/sponsored* :) Advantages of practicing:

a.Understanding: The more you practice, the more you understand how to apply concepts. It's as simple as that!b.Speed:
When it comes to math, there definitely is a need for speed. You read it. If you
don't finish answering your test in time, you're going to lose out on
marks. No one wants that! (right?) Remember, speed only comes with
practice.c.Exposure
to different questions: When you practice from multiple sources, you
come across different difficulty levels. Honestly, if math questions are
thrown at you one after the other, each will most likely be entirely
different and/or difficult than the next. So, to be able to solve a
large lot of questions correctly, practice will definitely help you.d.Improvement: Lastly, you'll just get better at it!

Avoiding making silly mistakes: (yes, silly mistakes)Remember, when you are solving a question, read the question very carefully so you don't make mistakes! The top places where you can just overlook certain information or just mess up unknowingly (and unnecessarily) are:

a. Signs: If you read 2x - 3y + 4z as 2x + 3y - 4z, it's obvious that your answer will be wrong.b. Variables: If you mix up the variables in the above example, you are going to be wrong again.c. Measurements/Units: For example: Find the area of a rectangle with l = 10 m and b = 70 cm. You have to convert either one of the units to get the answer with the correct unit. If you solve the question without doing so, you will end up with the correct number but not the right unit (in this case, at least).d. Final answers: Suppose a question asks you to find the value of 'x' but while doing the question you end up finding the value of 'y' (to find 'x') but end up writing the value of 'y' as your final answer. While that value may be right, unfortunately for you, it isn't what you were asked to solve for.

Lastly, don't forget to ASK someone for help when you need it. Whether you didn't understand a concept or were not able to solve a question, go ahead and ask someone! Don't be afraid, everyone has problems too! :)

That's all for this post. I hope it helped you. Honestly, this is what I do and it works for me.

Question: How do you study math? Do you like it or hate it? Leave a comment below!

Thanks a TON for reading this post! Please follow or subscribe so you know when I post next! Thanks! :)-Kavya :)

"Math is like going to the gym for your brain. It sharpens your mind." - Danica McKellar

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Hi,In this post, I'll be giving you an introduction for another series I'll be doing. :)Series Scoop:

Name: Studying Subjects

What: Tips on studying different subjects and getting good grades in them!

When: Random, no particular date/day.

Sub-topics: So far I thought of Math, Science, Languages and Social Studies

Thanks a TON for reading. Feel free to comment on what you think about this series and if you have any other subjects to add, go ahead (I'll get back to you!). Please follow or subscribe so you know when I post next! Thanks! :)-Kavya :)

“To acquire knowledge, one must study;but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.” ― Marilyn Vos Savant

Friday, 10 May 2013

Organize your time and your space. Then you will organize your life. Just do it ;) (in the words of Nike) You might ask why? Why should I put some time into organizing my life? Well, there are 3 main reasons that I can tell you and honestly, these have proven to be true for me. So, here they are:

1. Save time: I'm sure we all know that time is precious. So why waste it searching for that one paper you need to turn in? If you don't really plan and manage your time, you're probably either wasting it or just not using it wisely. However, if you do organize your space and time, you can use the time you've saved to do anything else you want to, right? Whether you want to hang out with friends, catch up on your favorite TV shows, practice your hobby, the options are endless.2. A stress free life: You
read it. It's true. When you manage your time and don't procrastinate,
you're never rushing to do things at the last minute and hence you are
not stressed. Same way, if your room is organized, you won't find
yourself scrambling everywhere to find things. A clutter-free space leads to a clutter-free life.3. Better outcome of work: To explain, let me use a couple examples: Let's say I have a project due in 13 days. If I procrastinate and do it the day before I have to submit it, I won't put a lot of thought/effort into what I'm doing (for example: is my content good, is the presentation neat, etc.). At that point in time, all that's going through my mind is "I need to finish this and I need to finish it NOW!" Right? Same way if I was cramming for a test, I most probably wouldn't study properly. However, if I did the opposite in both of these situations by preparing earlier, I would have gotten a much better grade.

If you were wondering is it worth organizing your life? Yes it is. I hope you now realize that and start doing so. :)As a high school student, these outcomes are truly amazing and make school life SO much easier.

Anyways, thanks a TON for reading. I hope this helped you. Feel free to comment below. While you're at it, please follow or subscribe so you know when I post next. Thanks! :)

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Hi. Hey. Hello. :)Welcome to my blog! I'm really excited about this! For my first post, I thought "What better to do for my first post than an introduction?" So in this post, that's exactly what I'm going to do, just cover the topics. Here we go! Main topics:-organization (how to organize your space, manage time, avoid procrastination, etc.)-school stuff (study tips, note taking, advice, etc.)Other topics:-Greats and Hates -hauls (occasionally)-reviews (from books to movies to just about anything)-tags (once in a while, it'll be fun) -Day in my life (maybe)And a LOT more! :)I hope you find my posts informative, helpful and nice to read.Thanks a TON for reading this! :)If you want to know more about me, click here.Please subscribe or follow so you know when I post next. Thanks!-Kavya :)